But what is really startling is that the number of “trophy” sales, those above $30 million, continued to fall this year, from a peak of 21 such sales in 2008. Last year saw six, and there were 10 in 2007. The four trophies this year were only as many as changed hands in sleepy 2006.

While this may make sense, given the recession and the mediocre real estate market, it actually runs counter to much of the high-end market. The news of late has been the soaring success of expensive apartments, and that remains true. According to The Journal, sales between $10 million and $30 million rose 15 percent this year. Our pal Jonathan Miller told The Journal that this seems like a more normal sales pace, and the high number of super-high sales in 2007 and 2008 were “an anomoly.”